Immediate Pain Relief After an Emergency Dental Procedure

February 7, 2025

Recently had an emergency dental procedure? Are you having any pain?

Well, pain after an emergency procedure is not unheard of. However, knowing how to manage this pain can make all the difference in your oral health journey.

Whether your emergency procedure was due to tooth extraction, root canal, or any other urgent dental work, managing the pain is essential for a smooth recovery.

There are multiple ways to get immediate relief after an emergency dental procedure.

Let’s get into this more.

Immediate Pain Relief Methods

When pain strikes, acting fast makes all the difference. Here are some of the best immediate pain relief tips for your dental emergencies.

Over-the-Counter Medicines

For most of the tooth pain, you can opt for these medicines.

Ibuprofen helps reduce inflammation and pain.
Acetaminophen works for the pain, but it does not work for inflammation.

Dosage Tips:

Follow what is written on the labels of these medicines.
Do not mix two medicines for a potent action.
If you have any doubts regarding these medicines, consult an emergency dentist.

Cold Compress

Using a cold compress is one of the fastest ways to deal with the pain and swelling that comes with an emergency dental procedure.

Wrap some ice cubes in a towel
Hold it to the outside of your cheek near the treated area
Keep it like this for 10-15 minutes
Repeat the same thing multiple times in the first 48 hours for a better result.

Home Remedies for Immediate Relief

There are some home remedies that you can try to see if they give you relief.

Saltwater Rinse

Add some salt to a glass of warm water.
Add it well and swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds. Then, spit it out.
This will help you in keeping the treated areas clean and free of any new bacteria.

However, if you had an extraction, do not do this rinsing in the first 24 hours.

Clove oil

Clove oil contains eugenol, which works as a natural anesthetic.
Dab a cotton pad into clove oil and place it near the treated area in your mouth.
This will help you get temporary relief from your pain and also work for the inflammation.

Stay Hydrated

Water helps in washing away bacteria and food particles from your mouth
So, ensure you have plenty of water and keep your mouth hydrated.

Soft Food

After the emergency dental procedure, you should have only soft foods in your diet.
Eating hard and crunchy food will be difficult at this time and can cause unnecessary complications in your healing.
Hence, stick to easy options, such as scrambled eggs, yogurt, etc.

When Do You Need an Emergency Dentist?

A bit of pain after an emergency dental procedure is normal; however, some signs are too dangerous to ignore. Know when you should be visiting an emergency dentist and take charge of your oral health.

If you have pain for 3-4 days, it is extreme.
If your swelling does not go down but rather increases with time
If you notice bleeding from your treated area
If you have a fever
A continuous foul taste or bad odor in the mouth.

Dealing with pain and severe complications after an emergency procedure is never fun, but it is manageable with the right strategies. Follow these tips and get back to your everyday life at the earliest.